So, a few months ago I decided that I wanted to switch my major to Biology.  So next semester, I will officially be a bio major! I still have a love for journalism though, so I want to continue posting on here once in a while.  I was thinking of making a blog strictly for my sales/bargains/couponing.  =]

Valencia

In a few weeks one of my favorite bands Valencia will be playing their last show at the Electric Factory. This show show will be extremely emotional for many of the fans, especially the group of girls I'm going to the show with. Valencia's music represents some of the best years of my life so far. I will update after the show.



This photograph isn't of Valencia but it was taken at a Valencia show. I love te lighting in this photo.

Black Friday

So, the dreaded for some yet anticipated for most, black Friday has come and gone. I personally did not go shopping because I was scheduled for a nine hour shift at Hallmark so I was forced into regular old Christmas shopping with regular old non-black Friday sales. Although I'm not sure that the black Friday madness would have been worth it after some of the deals I found. Some people may not know it but you can simply just google for coupons to almost every store possible! I was able to purchase one of my gifts that was originally $34.99 and was on sale for $29.99 for only $21.99 after searching for a target coupon code online. I was also able to find a free shipping coupon code for Mac cosmetics, and I landed a coupon for free underwear plus ten dollars off a Victoria's secret purchase by joining their pink nation club ( www.pinknation.com ) and after that purchase I received another coupon that's either worth $10, $50, $100, or $500!!! Also, if you're looking for fast shipping, head over to Amazon and sign up for their free trial of Amazon Prime which gives you unlimited 2 day shipping for free!! So if you missed black Friday or you're just a last minute shopper, there are still great deals out there and a lot of sites guarantee your order to arrive in time for Christmas!!!

Here's a photo of what I got from Victoria's secret. A shirt originally priced at $26.50 and undies originally priced at $10.50 and I got it all for $16.50 plus they gave me another coupon!! Also, if you love Victoria's Secret Pink, download their Pink Nation ap so you can get free stuff like I did!

Some Coupon Codes I've Used So Far

Macys- Enter 'MACYSFF' for 25% off

Macys- Extra 20% off and free shipping with coupon code 'perfect'

ULTA- Enter '68266' for 5 dollars of a 10 dollar or more purchase

Amazon- Free and unlimited 2 day shipping and free trial of Prime Membership  

MAC Cosmetics- Free shipping with code 'TXT'

Target- Coupon Expired

My thoughts on the Military

I removed my post solely for my mother not because i broke any laws, or threatened anyone, lied, slanderized, changed or deleted comments, but I stand by my opinions and if you would like to speak to me please feel free to email me at carlycassara@yahoo.com

Vacuum Shopping

So, each weekend my mom and I usually end up going out and shopping for something, whether it be groceries or her latest obsession, vacuum cleaners. You'd be surprised at the number of different features vacuum cleaners actually have. For example: HEPA filters, retractable cords, suction adjustment, attachments, bag or bag less, guide lights, upright or canister, pet brushes, belted or non belted, lightweight,  lift off canisters.  After shopping for vacuums for weeks I began to wonder if I was buying a vacuum, or if I was testing out the latest features for a nasa space craft.  Perhaps the most interesting thing about vacuum shopping is the all the sales people that you encounter who take an emmense amount of pride in their knowledge of vacuum cleaners...or lack of.  According to my mom, Donna Cassara "The sales people are friendly and they were trying to please but they were obviously ignorant as to the workings of a vacuum,  and the discretion of a female shopper."  It was almost like buying a car.  The male car sales people try to sell you this car because its shiny, and they don't think a woman will even check to see whats under the hood.  The same goes for vacuums.  Who cares if this vacuum isn't strong enough to pick up pet hair? It's purple!  I think after the first ten minutes of being hassled and talked down to by the salesmen they realized that my mom and I probably knew more about vacuums...and cars, than they did. Although we ran into quite a few of these types of sales people not all of them were like that.  There's the type of salesman who will literally take a bucket of dirt and dump it on the ground just to vacuum it up with a great vacuum that works and just happens to be 600 dollars which is totally and completely unrealistic.  After going to six stores, we tested out about 6 dozen vacuums.  Eventually we found ourselves at Bed, Bath, and Beyond purchasing the Shark Navigator Pro Lift Away....and no it is NOT purple.


Shark Navigator Pro Lift Away

Christmas Music!!

To some Christmas may feel like its just around the corner and to others it's still just a few days after Halloween. For me...it's never too early for Christmas. I've spent the last five hours listening to the Hanson Holiday Pandora radio station and nothing beats starting your morning off by belting out All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carrey. Although actual radio stations have yet start playing Christmas music, this time three years ago the Philadelphia area was already well into the season. According to Philly.com 97.5 FM began playing Christmas music just days after Halloween. Philly.com

If you would like to decide when Philadelphia should start playing Christmas music, head over to B101's website and vote to decide when they break out their holiday tunes. As for me, whether they are playing Christmas music this early or not, my holiday season has already begun.

  Vote for when B101 should start playing Christmas music!!

Another mysterious Philadelphia Building "The Divine Lorraine"

After my post about the Beury building, I've been thinking of other landmarks that caught my eye when I first moved to Philadelphia back in August.  One building that drew my attention was the 'Divine Lorraine' building which is located on Broad and Fairmount.  According to www.phillyhistory.org the building was built in between 1892 and 1894, about 30 years before the Beury building.  In its earlier years the building was known as Lorraine Apartments and The Lorraine Hotel.    When driving by this building you can't help but notice its stunning, yet somewhat eery look.  This building was sold to Father Divine in 1948 who coined the building's current name 'The Divine Lorraine Hotel'. Although this building serves as a landmark of Philadelphia, it also serves as a landmark in the war on segregation. "[Father Divine's] hotel was the first of its class in Philadelphia to be fully racially integrated." according to www.phillyhistory.org , " Divine’s followers ran the hotel after his death until its sale in 2000. The Universal Peace Mission Movement still exists in the form of a network of independent churches, businesses, and religious orders. Its followers also run another hotel, the Divine Tracy in West Philadelphia. The Divine Lorraine received a historical marker from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in 1994 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 as a site significant in terms of both architectural and civil rights history. After its most recent purchase in 2006, future plans for the hotel included converting it into condominiums." I truly do hope that the prospective plans for the Divine Lorraine actually happen, I would love to live there and if they do eventually convert the building into condos I hope that they decide to keep that sketchy 'Divine Lorraine' sign that currently sits on its roof.  On another note, I've come across a rumor that there is a ground's keeper for the run down hotel who allows certain people to actually go inside the building.  If anyone is brave enough to contact this man and convince him to allow you inside, I would love to join you! It seems like a great photo-op!